However, he’ll be the first to admit he was brought to his knees when he was shot by a Taser gun.

“It’s a complete loss of muscle control,” he said. “Your whole body contracts. It literally feels like you are being punched in the chest 19 times per second.”

Meyers recalled the unpleasant sensation of 50,000 volts of electricity going through his body after a Tuesday afternoon training session for deputies in the basement of the Winnebago County Justice Center where the officers learned how to use Taser International’s newest stun gun, the X26, a device also carried by some Rockford police officers.

Firing data, video

The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department is replacing its outdated Taser guns with the new model.

“Any time any one of these are used, there’s a computer download of information from the Taser to a server,” Meyers said. The information includes the date, time and duration the gun was fired.

Meyers said each Taser also will be equipped with a video camera to document persons resisting arrest.

“It’s just another safeguard against false complaints,” Meyers said.

In January, Amnesty International reported more than 220 people in the United States and Canada have died since 2001 after being shot by Tasers.

Taser International maintains none of the deaths have been directly linked to the stun gun.

Meyers said many involved people on drugs.

Grant money used

The department purchased 22 Taser guns, once reserved for use by supervisors, enough to equip one officer per beat. The gun will be worn on the officer’s belt on the opposite side from the service weapon. The high-tech stun guns were purchased at a cost of $32,314 and paid for with federal grant money from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.

Taser guns are electrical devices designed to incapacitate an individual from as far away as 25 feet. The weapon fires a cartridge that propels two small darts at a rate of 160 feet per second. While the resistive or combative individual is incapacitated, the officer can safely take the person into custody.

Instructor Ted Getty, a former lieutenant with the Rockford Police Department working for the Sheriff’s Department, said Taser guns are merely another tool at officers’ disposal to protect themselves and others.

“It has a 98 percent effectiveness rate,” he said. “Once someone has been Tasered, you don’t want to get Tasered again. They’ll cooperate.”

Used in South Beloit

South Beloit police Sgt. Brad McCaslin is helping train the county’s 140 to 150 deputies on how to use the X26.

South Beloit officers have had the gun in their arsenal since February 2004.
McCaslin estimates the officers have fired them 20 to 30 times.

“Since we had the Taser, we haven’t had a single officer injury,” he said, “and the injuries to suspects have decreased as well.”

Though Taser guns are considered “nonlethal” or “less than lethal” weapons, their use is controversial.

Getty said, “You can get more amps out of Christmas tree lights than you will from a Taser.”

Staff writer Chris Green can be reached at 815-987-1241 or cgreen@rrstar.com.